Geiger, Ronald, MSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
One day while in my home town, I ran into a man that owned a Printing Shop.. I asked where he learned how to print. He told me that he learned in the US Air Force.. I told him I'd like to learn a trade I could use later on.. He asked me what I'd like to learn. I told him I'd like to become a Mechanic. He said that the Air Force would also teach me that trade.. So I decided to joine the Air Force. A few days later, I joined the US Air Force. March 1961, I went to Lackland AFB, TX. for Basic Training.

Another reason I went into the Air Force was: My Brother-In-Law was in US Army in Korea during the War. When he got back into the USA, "he told me that IF I ever decide to go into the Military, do NOT go into the Army OR the Marines"!!! After spending a year in Vietnam, I'm extreemly happy that he told me not to go INTO the Army or the Marines!!! :-D

I spent a total of 22+ years in the Air Force. I am not sorry I joined.. IF I ever had another opportunity to join, I'd be right there..

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
March 1961 I arrived at Lackland AFB, TX.

May 1961 I arrived at Shepperd AFB, TX, for Tech School Training on Reciprocating A/C Engines.

Upon graduation, I went back home to Iowa on leave.

From there, I went to the 28th Logistic Support Sqdn. at Hill AFB, Utah. While there, I worked

John Snyder and (Myself) Ron Geiger, at Phan Rang AB, VN

on the C-124-C Aircraft engines.

March 1965 I got out of the Air Force, as we didn't think the AF was quite right for me and my family, since I'd got Married to my highschool sweetheart June 1, 1962, and we had two daughters while in Utah. Both were born at Hill AFB, Hospital.

August 1966 I called the US Air Force recruiter, to see if I could return to the Air Force, as the Civilian life was NOT at all for us, as a Family. We returned to Hill AFB, Ut. and want back to working at the 28th Military Air Transport Sqdn. (MATS).

Aug.-Sept 1966, I received orders to Wheelus AB, Libya, North Africa. There i worked on; HU-16's, C-124-C, C-47, C-54, & U-6 Aircraft. Wheelus was probably one of the most unusual place I was staioned during my 22 years in the Air Force. There I met Col. Chappie James, (our Wing Commander). Col James later became the first "Black" 4 star General in the USAF. During the tour there, Col. Moammar Gadhafi "over-threw" King Idris (then the ruler of Libya). He then became the "King", "Ruler", or "Terrorist" of Libya, and to this day, he still "rules" Libya with an "iron fist"..

Oct. 1969, I was to be stationed at Stewart AFB, NY.. When we got there, from being on leave in Iowa, we were told: "the base was closing down next week".

So the Air Force sent us to Richards-Gebauer AFB, Missouri. It was here that I made the rank of SSgt and I also re-enlisted for the first of many times whoile in the Air force.. There I worked on T-29's. While there, in July 1970, I received orders to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam.

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, I was immediately told I was now going to Phan Rang AB, Vietnam. While there, I worked on the C-123k, the "Agent Orange" Spraybirds, O-1's, O-2's, and AC-119 Aircraft Engines. Myself and another SSgt in my Squadron had TDY Orders that said; LEAVE: Phan Rang AB, Vietnam, Go To: *******, and Return to: Phan Rang AB, Vietnam. In other words, we could go to any base In Southeast Asia, to repair an Aircraft that needed the engine worked on. While in Vietnam, I traveled to almost all the major Air Force Bases, and a few of the smaller Fire Bases (that had a runway that could land a C-123 Aircraft). I even went TDY to Korat AB, Thailand with all our C-123 Aircraft, as there was a typhoon that hit Phan Rang. December 1971 I left Phan Rang for Nellis AFB, Nevada.

When I left Phan Rang, I was issued a Jet Engine 43230 AFSC instead of my original 43271 AFSC I had in Vietnam as a SSgt. When I arrived at Nellis, I told the NCOIC I was not familiar at all with a jet engine. All I knew was; one end "sucked" and the other end "blew". He said: "you'll learn". I evidently learned too well, as I spent two 6 month TDY's in Tahkli AB, Thailand.

Between my two trips to Thailand, I volunteered for the Flight Test Program for the newest Air Force Fighter, the F-15A & C, at Edwards AFB, Calif. After I returned to the USA, again from Thailand, I was sent PCS to Edwards AFB. There I learned all about the newest AF Fighter, working on the installed and un-installed engines, and all it's equipment required to do Intermediant Maintenance. From Edwards, I went TDY to Langley AFB, VA., Luke AFB, AZ, Holloman AFB, NM, Hartford, Conn., West Palm Beach, Fl., and Bitberg AB, Germany. While there I was asked to help them line up their needs to repair and work on the F100PW100 Pratt & Whitney engine that was in the F-15s. I also went TDY to several bases in the US to "show off" the F-15. We really enjoyed our stay at Edwards as both my Wife and I learned how to ride our dirt bikes out in the desert. We had a lot of fun as a Family and with other Friends and their Families. After traveling all over the USA and to Germany to train others to work on the F-15 engines and helped them get the engine equipment they'd need to repair the engines.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
While stationed at Phan Rang AB, VN on occasions the VC and NVA would atack us at night. Upon my arrival at Phan Rang AB, everyone told me that on occasions the base came under attack. After I'd gotten to Phan Rang, a week or two later the Sirens went off. (Telling us we were under attack). I was sleeping after working 12+ hours over-night, a 122mm Rocket came into my area. The rocket hit about 8-10 feet from where I was sleeping. While in the barracks, thought we all were KIA.. Luckily we were safe. The rocket blew off part of the roof, shrapnel hit the side of the barracks, etc. IF the rocket had not buried itself in the mud outside, before it exploded, we all would have been KIA.

On another occasion, while TDY to Cam Ranh Bay, I was working on one of the C-123k Model "Agent Orange Spray Birds" engines, out in the A/C Parking area. I was working and about 10PM I looked across the run-way I saw a fuel truck over there.. Anyway, the fuel truck exploded, then rockets, mortor rounds, small arms, and maching guns were going off & on all over the base. All of the explosions went off all night and all the next day until about 1700+ hours. During the whole night, etc. there were 5 men KIA. No telling how many were wounded??? I was glad that we left the next day.